Israel's Iron Dome

It’s an anti-missile system defence system designed to neutralise short-range rockets and artillery shells fired from distances of 4 to 70 kilometers. Israel claims that Iron Dome intercepted nearly 90 percent of the Hamas rockets launched during operation pillar of Cloud. Such is the curiosity surrounding it that President Obama during his recent trip to the Jewish state first visited an Iron Dome missile defence battery.

Here's a how the Iron Dome system works:

The system detects launches of rockets and quickly determines their flight path. If it is headed toward populated areas or sensitive targets, it fires an interceptor with a special warhead that strikes the incoming rocket within seconds.

Rockets headed toward open areas are allowed to land. The manufacturer says Iron Dome also works out the safest spot to detonate the incoming missile.

The first Iron Dome battery was installed in March 2011 near the southern city of Beersheva, 40 kilometres (25 miles) from the Gaza Strip, to combat Soviet-designed Grad rocket fire from the Palestinian territory.

The system's radar was developed in Israel by Elta. The system which calculates the aim of each interceptor is from Israeli software firm mPrest Systems. Weapons fired by Iron Dome include the Tamir missile.

Missiles cost around $40,000 a piece. In 2010, the US provided $200 million to expand development. The Israeli missile defence programme also includes other systems such as the Arrow, to counter ballistic missiles, and David's Sling, for medium-range rocket or missile attacks.